FOREWORD

The quality inside Quality Progress

A Fresh Start
Holding out hope for a better 2021
Well, we made it. The dumpster fire known as 2020 is behind
us. COVID-19, the U.S. presidential election and social unrest
were just a few parts that formed the backdrop of what became
one of the most chaotic, turbulent years in history.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one filled with joy while watching the
New Year’s Eve ball drop in New York’s Times Square. In 2020,
we all endured some type of unexpected, abrupt change or
loss—professionally, personally, or both. Distancing from family,
friends, and work colleagues. A job change, or maybe even a
layoff. The death of a loved one.
Of course, just because we turned the calendar to 2021 doesn’t
mean everything has been resolved, and there’s plenty of
carryover. But a new year always seems to give reason for hope
and a fresh start—promising vaccines to quell the coronavirus,
a smooth transition of power at the top of the U.S. government,
and meaningful action to address systemic racism in society.
This column gives me the chance to connect with you each
month, so I want to take this moment to extend my sincere
hopes for a better year for you in 2021. I also want to thank you
for sticking with us—and ASQ—as we’ve endured 2020’s ups
and downs together.
(As a quick aside: There’s a definite “up” on the way next
month for the magazine. Stay connected and be sure to check
out the February edition to see what I’m talking about. I don’t
want to risk saying anything more.)
Speaking of risk (nice segue, right?), we hope you can sink
your teeth into this month’s cover story, “Taking a Bite Out of
Risk,” p. 14. The author explores ways to improve how dental
implants are manufactured, using process failure mode and
effects analysis and risk priority number measurement. Hope-
fully, there are a few kernels of knowledge to extract from this
case study and apply to your specialty area.
Again, remember to return here next month. You don’t want
to risk missing out.
Seiche Sanders
Editor in Chief and Publisher

Directors at Large QP Editorial Review Board

ASQ’s Vision
ASQ will be the thought leader
and community of choice for individuals
and organizations seeking excellence
through quality.
ASQ Administration
Interim CEO Ann Jordan
Senior Leadership
Chair Janet Raddatz, Sargento Foods
(retired)
Chair-Elect A. Blanton Godfrey, North
Carolina State University
Past Chair Austin Lin, Google
Treasurer Wayne Brown, retired aerospace
executive and industry advisor/consultant
Linda Andrade Gonzalez KSR International Randy Brull, Chair
Jami Kovach University of Houston Administrative Committee
Paulo Sampaio University of Minho
Glenn Walters  New Mexico Small Business Brady Boggs, Randy Brull, Jim Jaquess,
Development Center Scott Laman, Lou Ann Lathrop, R. Dan Reid,
Network Richard Stump
TCC
Wanda Sturm RGP Technical Reviewers
Sue Peiffer HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital Naveen Agarwal, Ashraf Ali, Suresh Anaganti,
Grace Duffy  Management & Performance Zubair Anwar, M. Onur Artan, N.T. Balakrishnan,
Systems Andy Barnett, Matthew Barsalou, David Bonyuet,
Jane Keathley Keathley and Company, LLC David Burger, Brooks Carder, Bernie Carpenter,
Frank Murdock FKM Consulting, LLC L.N. Prabhu Chandrasekaran, Ken Cogan,
Allen Wong AKW Consulting Linda Cubalchini-Travis, Ahmad Elshennawy,
Sureshchandar G.S., Mark Gavoor, Kunita Gear,
Daniel Gold, T. Gourishankar, Tolga Göcer, Roberto
GCC Guzman, Ellen Hardy, Lynne Hare, Victoria Jones,
Nancy Nouaimeh Abela & Co. Trevor Jordan, Ray Klotz, T.M. Kubiak, William
Leigh Ann Schildmeier Park Avenue Solutions LaFollette, Scott Laman, Pradip Mehta, N.S.
Edwin Garro  PXS Performance Narahari, Arind Parthasarathy, Larry Picciano,
Excellence Solutions Gene Placzkowski, Tony Polito, Ritam Priya,
Michael Kirchner Retired Peter Pylipow, Imran Ahmad Rana, Narahari
Therese Steiner LexisNexis Vittal Rao, John Richards, James Rooney, Ayman
John Conner DRT Aerospace Sakr, Brian Scullin, Abhijit Sengupta, Amitava
Sengupta, Mohit Sharma, A.V. Srinivas, Adrian Tan,
Administration Joe Tunner, B. Vaithiyanathan, Manu Vora, Keith
Ann Jordan, Interim CEO Seiche Sanders, Publisher Wagoner, Jack Westfall, Doron Zilbershtein

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